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Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions AP Calculus Program -What are the benefits of taking the AP calculus stream courses? -What are the disadvantages of taking the AP stream? -How can one learn university level material if there’s still highschool curriculum to learn? -Can one join the AP stream if you missed the chance to sign up to the Gr10 academic AP stream version? -Do I have to write the AP exam? Which universitites recognize the AP exam? -How much does the AP exam cost? What is it like? Other info about the AP exam. What are the benefits of taking the AP calculus stream courses? Widespread research confirms that those students that take AP Calculus do significantly better in university/college, with higher graduation rates, graduating in fewer years, earning better marks, landing better jobs, and living overall more-productive, more-satisfying, and extraordinary lives. The research indicates even better results for those who actually take and pass the AP exam.  After taking the Gr10 academic course within the AP stream students will be at an advantage in Gr11 Physics class because they will have studied vectors prior to grade 11.  Students also will have a lot of time to consider whether the AP stream is right for them as they take the Gr11 Functions and Gr12 Advanced Functions courses (which will be run like a regular stream). For schedule of unit topics see course outline. Take a look at related careers associated with taking AP calculus AB. to TOP What are the disadvantages of taking the AP stream? Not everyone taking the AP stream is truly ready for it. For some students it leads to overconfidence and a student's misplaced certainty that he or she already knows the material and then some actually do poorly at the university level. In the drive to make it to calculus by the senior year, students often rush through algebra and geometry in lockstep with their gifted peers whether they are ready for it or not. The end result is a group of students who have "succeeded" in high school calculus without really having the proper foundations, a tower built on sand. It is quite possible for students to learn the mechanics of many categories of calculus problems and to answer questions correctly on exams without really understanding the concepts. There’s evidence that  suggests that some were "good at math" because they succeeded in parroting what they saw demonstrated in class. Parroting is not learning, however, and may hide a student's true abilities. For this reason, the AP stream for math at our school will be revised to be run in the following way. Hopefully with this change students who really need more time to work on the foundational topics to get ready for AP calculus topics will have an easier time keeping up, since the two middle courses (MCR and MHF) will be pretty much like the regular stream courses, apart from a few enrichments see * above. to TOP How can one learn university level material if there’s still highschool curriculum to learn? Gr10 academic curriculum is not as jammed packed as the Gr11, Gr12 math courses that follow. So after going over the five units of grade 10, students will continue on to three units of vectors, taken from Gr12 Calculus & Vectors course. This will free up time in Gr12 Calculus & Vectors course for students to learn calculus of highschool AND calculus of 1st semester of university (Advanced Placement Calculus AB version is one semester, BC version is two semesters).  The Gr11 Functions and Gr12 Advanced Functions will remain unchanged from the regular stream apart for enrichments here and there that would be appropriate for the stronger group of students. In terms of how evaluations will be done in the Gr10 acadimic and Gr12 Calculus & Vectors courses - rest assured that even though you’ll cover ‘extra’ topics your grade will only be based on the corresponding curriculum of each course. The enrichments will count only if they boost your mark.  However if you choose to stay in the AP stream then the three units of vectors marks will be transferred to the appropriate course. to TOP Can one join the AP stream if you missed the chance to sign up to the Gr10 academic AP stream version? Yes. Keep in mind that Gr11 Functions and Gr12 Advanced Functions will be run pretty much like regular stream. So even if you are not in the AP stream you may take those courses along with the AP streamed students, provided there’s space. Also you may join the AP stream Gr12 Calculus & Vectors course even if you didn’t take the Gr10 academic AP stream, provided that you talk to the teacher running the course and do the three units of vectors that you’d have missed.  In order to do the three units of vectors independently, check out this page.  You’ll also have to make arrangements with the teacher for you to demonstrate your knowledge of those three units PRIOR to signing up. to TOP Do I have to write the AP exam in May? No, you do not.  The AP exam in May is graded by the College Board. Cost of it is above the $100 mark. It is optional. There is no disadvantage of scoring badly on this exam, but if you score a particular average on the exam it can count as a university credit for some universities, visit the College Board website to see if your university of choice will accept it as a credit. Look at the Calculus AB program not Calculus BC since the less in depth program will run at Notre Dame. (The BC program involves more university level material which you can learn independently if you so wish.)   Even if your university of choice will not accept the AP Calculus course as a university credit, please consider the following: Math is always easier when reinforced more than once. So there is a great advantage of learning the university material before most of the other students. Students that take the AP Calculus have a better chance in reaching higher marks in their first year of university. to TOP How much does the AP exam cost? What is it like? Other info about the AP exam. Cost.  You must convert this cost to Canadian $. About the exam. Summary of topics to know. Past exam questions. Another teachers’s site. Other resources.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions AP Calculus Program -What are the benefits of taking the AP calculus stream courses? -What are the disadvantages of taking the AP stream? -How can one learn university level material if there’s still highschool curriculum to learn? -Can one join the AP stream if you missed the chance to sign up to the Gr10 academic AP stream version? -Do I have to write the AP exam? Which universitites recognize the AP exam? -How much does the AP exam cost? What is it like? Other info about the AP exam. What are the benefits of taking the AP calculus stream courses? Widespread research confirms that those students that take AP Calculus do significantly better in university/college, with higher graduation rates, graduating in fewer years, earning better marks, landing better jobs, and living overall more-productive, more-satisfying, and extraordinary lives. The research indicates even better results for those who actually take and pass the AP exam.  After taking the Gr10 academic course within the AP stream students will be at an advantage in Gr11 Physics class because they will have studied vectors prior to grade 11.  Students also will have a lot of time to consider whether the AP stream is right for them as they take the Gr11 Functions and Gr12 Advanced Functions courses (which will be run like a regular stream). For schedule of unit topics see course outline. Take a look at related careers associated with taking AP calculus AB. to TOP What are the disadvantages of taking the AP stream? Not everyone taking the AP stream is truly ready for it. For some students it leads to overconfidence and a student's misplaced certainty that he or she already knows the material and then some actually do poorly at the university level. In the drive to make it to calculus by the senior year, students often rush through algebra and geometry in lockstep with their gifted peers whether they are ready for it or not. The end result is a group of students who have "succeeded" in high school calculus without really having the proper foundations, a tower built on sand. It is quite possible for students to learn the mechanics of many categories of calculus problems and to answer questions correctly on exams without really understanding the concepts. There’s evidence that  suggests that some were "good at math" because they succeeded in parroting what they saw demonstrated in class. Parroting is not learning, however, and may hide a student's true abilities. For this reason, the AP stream for math at our school will be revised to be run in the following way. Hopefully with this change students who really need more time to work on the foundational topics to get ready for AP calculus topics will have an easier time keeping up, since the two middle courses (MCR and MHF) will be pretty much like the regular stream courses, apart from a few enrichments see * above. to TOP How can one learn university level material if there’s still highschool curriculum to learn? Gr10 academic curriculum is not as jammed packed as the Gr11, Gr12 math courses that follow. So after going over the five units of grade 10, students will continue on to three units of vectors, taken from Gr12 Calculus & Vectors course. This will free up time in Gr12 Calculus & Vectors course for students to learn calculus of highschool AND calculus of 1st semester of university (Advanced Placement Calculus AB version is one semester, BC version is two semesters).  The Gr11 Functions and Gr12 Advanced Functions will remain unchanged from the regular stream apart for enrichments here and there that would be appropriate for the stronger group of students. In terms of how evaluations will be done in the Gr10 acadimic and Gr12 Calculus & Vectors courses - rest assured that even though you’ll cover ‘extra’ topics your grade will only be based on the corresponding curriculum of each course. The enrichments will count only if they boost your mark.  However if you choose to stay in the AP stream then the three units of vectors marks will be transferred to the appropriate course. to TOP Can one join the AP stream if you missed the chance to sign up to the Gr10 academic AP stream version? Yes. Keep in mind that Gr11 Functions and Gr12 Advanced Functions will be run pretty much like regular stream. So even if you are not in the AP stream you may take those courses along with the AP streamed students, provided there’s space. Also you may join the AP stream Gr12 Calculus & Vectors course even if you didn’t take the Gr10 academic AP stream, provided that you talk to the teacher running the course and do the three units of vectors that you’d have missed.  In order to do the three units of vectors independently, check out this page.  You’ll also have to make arrangements with the teacher for you to demonstrate your knowledge of those three units PRIOR to signing up. to TOP Do I have to write the AP exam in May? No, you do not.  The AP exam in May is graded by the College Board. Cost of it is above the $100 mark. It is optional. There is no disadvantage of scoring badly on this exam, but if you score a particular average on the exam it can count as a university credit for some universities, visit the College Board website to see if your university of choice will accept it as a credit. Look at the Calculus AB program not Calculus BC since the less in depth program will run at Notre Dame. (The BC program involves more university level material which you can learn independently if you so wish.)   Even if your university of choice will not accept the AP Calculus course as a university credit, please consider the following: Math is always easier when reinforced more than once. So there is a great advantage of learning the university material before most of the other students. Students that take the AP Calculus have a better chance in reaching higher marks in their first year of university. to TOP How much does the AP exam cost? What is it like? Other info about the AP exam. Cost.  You must convert this cost to Canadian $. About the exam. Summary of topics to know. Past exam questions. Another teachers’s site. Other resources.